Saturday, October 18, 2014

I don't know whether this is inclusive enough or not: Iraq Parliament Approves Defense and Interior Ministers - Move Ends Political Deadlock in Baghdad at a Time When Nation is Under Siege by Radical Insurgency

BAGHDAD—Iraq’s parliament approved Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ’s nominees for two critical security posts in his government on Saturday, ending a more-than monthlong deadlock over who will lead the defense and interior ministries at a time when the nation is under siege by a radical insurgency.

While the political wrangling in parliament over the appointees appeared to be over, it wasn't immediately clear how the ministers would be received by a country deeply fractured along sectarian lines.

The delay in naming the ministers had raised questions over the prime minister’s ability to rise above the sectarian squabbling in parliament and push through candidates that would foster a more inclusive political environment, after years of Shiite domination that is largely seen as a major factor in the rise of Islamic State.

On Saturday, the parliament approved and swore in Mr. Abadi’s latest nominees. His choice for interior minister, which administers the country’s police force, went to Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban, a Shiite lawmaker with the controversial Badr Corps.

For defense minister, Mr. Abadi chose Khaled al-Obeidi, a Sunni parliamentarian from Mosul, a city that became a symbol of the Iraqi military’s failure to anticipate and stop Islamic State’s incursion in June.

Both men were approved after a long period of political debate over influence in the new administration.